COGAL is born, a voice for Lanzarote's older LGBTI+ people: today in Arrecife, tomorrow Lorenza Machín's film

There is a generation that had to win the freedom to be who they were when it came at a high price. On Lanzarote they now have their own association: COGAL, the Colectivo LGTBI+ de Mayores de Lanzarote y La Graciosa, launching today, Thursday 17, at 6pm at the Casa de la Cultura Agustín de la Hoz in Arrecife.

Its motto is "Visibles, Diversxs, Orgullosas, JUNTXS". The aim: to make older LGBTI+ people on both islands visible, gather their experiences and needs, and stop treating them as if they did not exist. President Lorenza Machín, actress and activist, will present the project and its story. The group is already preparing a peer-support programme for older members of the community.

"Standing beside a community that for many years had to fight to live and express itself freely helps make Arrecife a place open to diversity," said culture councillor Abigail González.

More dates

Friday 18, 6pm, at the Centro Sociocultural de La Vega: screening of Entre Diosas, a short film by Lorenza Machín. At the same centre until 30 September, the exhibition "Lorenza Machín: escritura, lucha, vida" on her life as an actress and activist.